MEXICO CITY — Newly formed Hurricane Raymond strengthened rapidly Sunday night as it swirled toward Mexico's southern Pacific coast, an area already devastated by rains and mudslides from Tropical Storm Manuel last month.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center predicted Raymond would take a sharp westward turn and head out to sea before reaching land, but warned that the Category 2 storm still might get as close as 50 miles (80 kilometers), bringing the threat of heavy and possibly dangerous rains. The center said the storm was expected to strengthen more over the next day.